Thursday, July 1, 2010

Bluff City Vegan Eats: Cafe Ole

Two restaurant recaps in one week! I've been eating out a lot lately thanks to a sudden increase in social obligations. Last night, that obligation was Girl's Night Dinner with my friends Misti, Holley, and Maggie. We met on the spacious courtyard patio at my favorite Mexican joint — Cafe Ole in the Cooper-Young Historic District.

Here's Misti and I, anxiously awaiting our food. We were starving:

My photo of Maggie came out all blurry, but here's Holley lookin' cool in her shades:

Of course, we started with a pitcher of Strawberry Margaritas:

These icy cocktails are so fantastic for sipping on the Cafe Ole patio during this crazy Memphis heat. The margaritas are spiked with real chunks of strawberry, and they're just the right balance of tangy and sweet.

Cafe Ole offers several vegetarian and easily veganized options. Veg dishes are clearly marked with a green "vegetarian," and though most contain cheese, the cooks are more than happy to leave it off. My faves include the Veggie Taco (it has bean sprouts!), the Veggie Burrito, and the Cozumel (pictured here):

The Cozumel is two enchiladas — one with spinach and mushrooms and the other with black beans — smothered in tomatillo sauce. The dish is served with a small guacamole salad and the best Mexican rice ever:

Cafe Ole's Mexican rice is lightly seasoned, and the texture of the rice is always perfect. Though I prefer brown rice at home, I don't mind splurging on white rice when I'm dining out.

Cafe Ole is located at 959 S. Cooper St. Call 901-274-1504 or go to their website here.